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Monthly Archives: November 2014

My weekend was somewhat all over the map. We had birthday well wishing to do, people to take to the airport, and sadly, a layup with a migraine for most of my Saturday. It put a dent into my writing time, but I shan’t let that deter me. Yumi and company will get to the end of this story as well, and in the meantime, I hope you all were enjoying the teaser I left last week for you!

There won’t be a teaser today, but I promise there will be more to come.

Instead, I will leave you with a tiny musing from a few years ago, in honor of Dragon Age: Inquisition launching tomorrow. Even though I have many misgivings with the events of Dragon Age 2, the first game, Dragon Age: Origins, remains one of the games that I love. It’s dark, it’s gritty, and it fuels so many ideas that I would love to capitalize on. Overall, I have this love/hate relationship with the game because of the direction they’ve been taking it. At the end of the day though, I absolutely love my origin Grey Warden, Samantha Cousland, and here’s just a touch of her story. Warning, if for some reason, you’ve never played Dragon Age: Origins, it’s a bit spoilerish, but you don’t have to have played for it to make sense.

My weekend was somewhat all over the map. We had birthday well wishing to do, people to take to the airport, and sadly, a layup with a migraine for most of my Saturday. It put a dent into my writing time, but I shan’t let that deter me. Yumi and company will get to the end of this story as well, and in the meantime, I hope you all were enjoying the teaser I left last week for you!

There won’t be a teaser today, but I promise there will be more to come.

Instead, I will leave you with a tiny musing from a few years ago, in honor of Dragon Age: Inquisition launching tomorrow. Even though I have many misgivings with the events of Dragon Age 2, the first game, Dragon Age: Origins, remains one of the games that I love. It’s dark, it’s gritty, and it fuels so many ideas that I would love to capitalize on. Overall, I have this love/hate relationship with the game because of the direction they’ve been taking it. At the end of the day though, I absolutely love my origin Grey Warden, Samantha Cousland, and here’s just a touch of her story. Warning, if for some reason, you’ve never played Dragon Age: Origins, it’s a bit spoilerish, but you don’t have to have played for it to make sense.

Her footsteps were heavy as she left her bedroom. I have to talk to Alistair. I’ll make him see. This is the only way. It would be simple. After the news that Riordan had shared, Sam had begun to doubt it. A Grey Warden had to die tomorrow. Except Morrigan was offering another way, and where six months ago, Sam would have been dubious of the witch’s intentions, she had no reason not to trust the woman now. She had been a fast friend, and she was offering Sam a chance to have everything that she had lost.

Alistair will understand. She told herself as she continued through Eamon’s estate towards her lover’s room.

“What are you doing, Samantha?”

The warm male voice made her feet stop dead in their tracks, her heart thudded painfully in her chest. It had been since the Frostback Mountains that she had heard his voice. Maker, it’s been too long. I’d almost forgotten…

“Samantha, look here.”

She nervously tucked flaxen hair behind her ears as she turned as commanded, finding herself staring into the gray eyes of her father. No, he’s not supposed to be here.

“Pup, what are you doing?”

“Father, I…” she barely stammered as she stepped closer to the man before her.

The disapproving look in those cool gray eyes made the words die on her lips. “I raised you better than this. You can’t forswear your duty. Not even now. We are still Cousland, and we do what must be done.”

Her eyes dropped to her leather clad feet, her cheeks reddening like they always had whenever she had been scolded. “I.. I just wanted…”

The meek voice barely sounded like hers. “You wanted, my girl. That is the problem. We cannot make our judgments based on what we want. You must use your head, even if it does not agree with what is in your heart.” Hot tears stung at her eyes, and she nodded, trying to stare a hole into her boots. She felt the soft, gentle touch of her father’s hand on her face, as he lifted her chin to force her eyes to meet his. “You have done your duty to our family, and I could not be prouder of my fierce girl for avenging us. But, you have more duties now. To the Wardens. To Ferelden. To Thedas. Make your father proud still. Do what must be done.”

Tears silently fell down her cheeks as she listened to the words. She nodded once more, looking back to the ground as she clumsily wiped away the tears. “Father,” she began looking back up, but the hall was empty, void. Her heart ached with renewed grief, and she silently commanded the tears to stop. With a twisting knife in her gut, she made her way to the room.

Gallery

Not So Picture Perfect Book 1 of the Between the Veil Series Cover art by DragonReine Featuring New Orleans native Yumi Matthews. How far is she willing to go to get information regarding her brother’s disappearance? http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NZ5HU5A/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

My bad. I was busy, which is still no excuse, but hey, I was busy with good things? Like working on the second book, good things?

How about as an act of contrition, I share a tiny bit with you? And no, I’m not telling on what’s going on here. If you’ve not read the first book, you may want to not read further.

You’ve been warned.

Maybe Derek thought I was still some drug addled girl dancing for him, but he was sorely mistaken if he thought for one second he was going to bully me here. Rather than shrinking away from him, I stood my ground, a smirk playing about my face. “Well, I guess you’re just going to have to deal with the rest of us interfering with your family matter.”

Ash clapped him on the back as he walked past him, causing Derek to jump just a bit craning his neck around to look at where he had been touched. “Besides, from the looks of things, Richie, you could use the help.”

With a scowl firmly entrenched across his face, Derek straightened both himself and his suit jacket, looking at Ash. “If I ever need your help, I’ll call work force. And for god’s sake wash your fucking hands. And you…”

I crossed my arms under my breast, waiting. “Yes?”

“You know what you can do to help me, or rather,” A smirk played across his face. “Based on the way you’re dressed, how I can help you.” Without missing a beat, he turned towards Cat, reaching inside his coat pocket and pulling out a business card. “You, call me if you ever need work.”

Part of me felt like I should take the card out of Cat’s hands, but I elected to ignore it, and Derek. Ash seemed to decide the same thing as he walked the right length of of the front porch, examining the windows one by one. Each appeared to be boarded up and nailed tight. I walked up beside him. “Doubtful anyone has been here in some time, short stuff. You sure she was here?”

I shrugged as his gaze met mine. “Everything about this area says she couldn’t have been, but there’s nothing else for miles around that could even fit the bill.”

The sound of stomping feet echoed behind me, Derek muttered under his breath before sighing in an overdramatic fashion. “Okay, Laura Holt…”

Both Ash and I turned to Derek. Ash’s face mirrored mine, as I had no idea what he was referencing. Ash gave Derek a rather flat look. “What are you going on about, Richie?”

“Laura Holt? What you never watched Remington Steele? What am I saying, of course you haven’t. You probably only watch Dirty Jobs.” If Derek was getting under Ash’s skin, Ash never showed it. He merely turned his attention back to boarded up window. The cold shoulder from Ash only seemed to make Derek pleased though. He turned towards me, the smirk playing about his lips. “You strike me more as the Amish Mafia sort.”

“And you’d be wrong on that account.” I looked to him expectantly. “You were saying.”

Hope you enjoyed the teaser. Also, follow me now at Tumblr: http://amberccarlyle.tumblr.com/